NYC Parks announced that it has surpassed the total tree planting from last fiscal year. As of June 3, the agency had planted 13,154 trees citywide and expected to plant a total of 14,900 by June 30. The largest number of trees ever planted in the last 6 years.
“Our trees are the lungs of our city, helping to clean our air, beautify our streets and parks, provide shade, and absorb rainwater, and I am very confident in the work of NYC Parks to expand these resources,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “Our trees continue to be one of the best natural infrastructures we have, and our administration remains a champion for the ongoing expansion and protection of our city’s urban forest,” he added.Plantings in Heat Vulnerable Areas
In an effort to reduce the impacts of heat due to climate change, Parks prioritized tree planting in neighborhoods with higher heat vulnerability. Among the 13,150 new trees planted in fiscal year 2023, over 5,700 of the new plantings are in heat vulnerable neighborhoods, according to New York’s Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI), a tool that identifies communities bearing the greatest burden of heat-related health impacts (HVI 1-5 with 5 = highest risk).
Some of these areas include:
• Bronx: Williamsbridge, Woodlawn, Eastchester, Edenwald, Soundview, Morris Park, Norwood
• Brooklyn: East Flatbush, Bushwick, Crown Heights, Flatlands, Sunset Park, Canarsie, Cypress Hills, Fort Greene, Stuyvesant Heights
• Manhattan: Central Harlem, East Harlem, Lower East Side, Hamilton Heights, Manhattanville
• Queens: Hunters Point, Sunnyside, Long Island City, Elmhurst, Laurelton, South Ozone Park, St. Albans, Flushing, Woodside
Since 2017, 15,677 street and park trees have been planted in HVI-5 neighborhoods, with about 9,700 scheduled to be planted by spring 2024. Thanks to an additional $136 million allocated by the current administration for the program, Parks expects to plant trees in every viable location in HVI-4 and HVI-5 neighborhoods by 2026.
Source: NYC Parks